A Forum for Orthodox Jewish thought on Halacha, Hashkafa, and the social issues of our time.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Imbibing in the Culture and Remaining Observant

Chasidim in New Square

Oh, what the religious world lost when Shulem Deen opted out.
In yet another insightful article he explains one of the little understood
problems felt by those who change their lives from living culturally isolated lives
to trying to integrate into the culture.

For Deen and many others who opted out of their religious
upbringing, going from being a Charedi or Chasidic Jew to being a secular one was
a lot more than just about dropping observance. It was about fitting in.

Fitting in for them did not just mean being able to
socialize with their new peer group. It meant the difference between getting a
job and not getting one. Shulem Deen
learned this after being rejected for a job he was well qualified for:

A workplace is more than just a professional environment;
there’s a social aspect to it as well, and that’s where I knew I would find
myself challenged.

I think his contention is well founded. Given equal competence
at a job, candidates will be selected as much for social reasons as they are their
job skills. I would not surprised if a
slightly more qualified job applicant would lose out to a slightly less
qualified applicant because of a social bond between employee and employer.

The social skills Deen is talking about are what most of us in
Modern Orthodoxy (MO) acquire growing up in a
both an observant and secular environment. We become assimilated enough to
understand and even appreciate some of the cultural values of our secular
surroundings. So we can talk about the Cubs or the Mets; Elton John or even
Lady Gaga. Someone that grew up where Shulem Deen did, has mostly no clue about
those things. For Chasidim in particular
the differences are even greater. Their
manner of dress, their long beards and Peyos separate them even more. A Chasid
from New Square may not even know how to
tie a knot for a necktie.

I am not saying this is always true. Many Chasidim can and
do get work in such environments. And it is also true, that most MO men wear
Kipot when applying for jobs. That is certainly something that sets them apart
from their potential employers.

But generally speaking I think Deen is right about the total
lack of any cultural commonalities with the people who inhabit the world they
seek to live in. That makes life exceedingly difficult. Depressing even.

As I’ve said in the past, a lot of Orthodox Jews drop observance
for a variety of different reasons. Some emotional and some intellectual. And they
stem from across the entire spectrum of Orthodoxy. Those that leave for intellectual reasons may
not be able to be convinced to try a more liberal form of Orthodoxy that will
get them much of what they seek.

But as it pertains to the Charedi world, my gut feeling has
always been that in most cases it is as much about strictures that exist in
their world that they want to escape, and not necessarily observance. Strictures
that do not exist in Modern Orhtodxy. Added to that is the fact that in the
more isolated and extreme versions of the Charedi world – like New Square –
Modern Orthodoxy is seen treated almost the same as being secular. So when they
leave the Charedi world, they leave it all.

Shulem Deen shows us that fitting in is the real obstacle. Those who have tried to join Modern Orthodox communities
have never felt welcome in them. Not because of any prejudices. At least I hope
not. But because they simply have not been assimilated into the general culture
the way most Modern Orhtodox Jews have. So for example going to a Billy Joel Concert
is a very normal thing to do for a Modern Orthodox Jew. For the Charedi Jew (and especially a Chasidic
Jew) that is considered a negative activity. They only involve themselves in
the culture when they have to, like for business, a job or for medical
treatment. They do only what’s necessary and reject everything else as foreign to
Judaism and to be avoided.

There are some exceptions in some circles like maybe
attending a sporting event . But even that is not looked upon favorably and is discouraged
by most Charedi leaders. The more isolated the community, the more that is the
case. And the less likely it will be for someone leaving that culture to fit in
to a modern Orthodox enclave. That makes a transition from ‘Ultra’ to ‘modern’ not
seem like a real option for them.

The thing is, though, fitting into a secular culture would
seem to be just as hard. The same obstacles exist there. I think this is what Deen is actually saying.

This is where Footsteps comes in. They try and acculturate
you to your new secular environment and teach you how to navigate that world.

Footsteps has been criticized as being hostile to religion. I have been told by those that have studied this orgainzation that they are more than hostile to it. Others say they are agnostic about it. Either way this is not the option I would reccommend to those that have even the slightest chance of retaining their observance.

While I doubt that all those who dropped out of observance for
intellectual reasons can be convinced to stay or return observance in the
modern orthodox world. On the other hand, I think those who drop out for other reasons can.

There is an organization that is trying to do just that. It
was founded by Allison Josephs and described here in the past. It will teach you how to navigate the secular world. But it also
tries to show you that you can just about have it all. You can imbibe in the
general culture and still remain observant – a Jew in good standing within an observant
framework.

So I guess my message to those who may feel stifled in a
world isolated from things they desire, and feel that the only way they can do
it is by leaving it all - to please consider not leaving it all… and having what
you want while remaining observant. Modern Orthodoxy is not as unfriendly as
you might think… once you get the hang of it.

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About Me

My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.